Safety system for fluid conduit

ABSTRACT

A fluid conduit safety system which comprises valves at each end of the conduit which are connected by a cable. If the hose ruptures, the valves close preventing discharge of fluid from the fluid supply and discharge of fluid from the container being filled while at the same time the cable prevents the ends of the hose from whipping about and causing damage or injury. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for stopping the flow of fluid through a conduit which fails which comprises the steps of providing a conduit with a valve at each end and means connecting the valves to each other and disposed in the conduit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to high pressure fluid delivery systems and moreparticularly to a safety system for a conduit which is part of the highpressure delivery system.

A prevailing problem in high pressure fluid delivery systems, such asthose used to fill containers with compressed gases such as oxygen,nitrogen, carbon dioxide and the like is the risk that a conduit whichis part of the fluid delivery system may fail.

Typically, these conduits are made of hardy flexible material, such astreated and reinforced rubber, neoprene, nylon, TEFLON, stainless steeland the like.

However, on occasion, the conduits fail by rupturing or splitting. Whena hose ruptures, two hazards are present. First, the two pieces of theconduit which result from the rupture are free to whip around wildlyunder the force of the compressed gases which are being dischargedthrough the ruptured conduit from the container being filled and fromthe discharge manifold of the fluid supply. Until the conduit can beconstrained, substantial risk of injury to personnel and damage toequipment exists.

Further, a discharge of gas from the manifold and the container throughthe ruptured hose conduit can lead to a costly waste of gas, or evenworse, can fill an environment with hazardous fumes.

It would be desirable to have a system which would restrain a rupturedhigh pressure conduit from whipping about, and at the same time would becapable of preventing gases from leaking from the conduit through therupture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in mind the invention relates to a fluid conduitsafety system comprising a flexible conduit. A valve is at each end ofthe conduit. Each valve includes a valve seat and a valve body. Thevalve bodies are retained at fixed predetermined distance from eachother which distance is slightly greater than the distance between thevalve seats so that in normal operation the compressed fluid can passbetween the valve and valve seat at each end of the conduit.

If the conduit were to rupture or split, relative movement between thevalves and the valve seats under the force of the compressed fluid willcause the valves at each end of the conduit to close thus blocking flowof the fluid.

In yet another aspect of the invention the valve bodies are retained attheir predetermined distance from each other by an elongated cable thatextends between them and through the conduit. Thus, if the conduit wereto rupture, the cable would prevent the ends of the hose from whipping.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for stoppingthe flow of fluid through a conduit which has failed and preventing theconduit from whipping. It comprises the steps of providing a flexibleconduit with a first valve member at each end of the conduit where thefirst valve members are spaced from each other a predetermined distance.A second valve member is provided adjacent each of the first valvemembers with means for retaining the second valve members a secondpredetermined distance from each other which second distance is greaterthan the distance between the first valve members. Means are providedfor restraining the second valve members from moving relative to theconduit until the conduit fails whereupon the first and second valvemembers engage each other and block flow through the conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood and further advantages and usesthereof will be readily apparent when considered in view of thefollowing detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken withthe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for filling cylinder withcompressed fluid under high pressure.

FIG. 2 is a view of a conduit constructed in accordance with a presentlypreferred form of the invention with the valves therein positioned topermit fluid flow.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the valves positioned toblock fluid flow.

In FIG. 1 a delivery system for filling containers with compressedfluids is illustrated as comprising fluid supply 10 such as a reservoir,or fluid compressing means, or the like. The supply 10 may be connectedby a discharge manifold 12 to a plurality of containers 14 to which thefluid is to be transferred. Typically, the containers 14 may be gascylinders which are well known in the art. Conduits 20 which may beelongated flexible members are connected between the discharge manifold12 and the containers 14.

Typically, the conduits 20 are hoses made of reinforced neoprene,rubber, neoprene, nylon, TEFLON, stainless steel and the like so thatthey have a high degree of flexibility and are capable of withstandingthe high pressures which they encounter from the compressed fluids thatmove through them.

In FIG. 2 one of the conduits 20 is shown in detail. The conduit 20includes a housing 22 at one end and an identical housing 24 at itsother end. The housings 22 and 24 are connectors which enable theconduit 20 to be connected other elements in the fluid handling system.Since the two housings are identical, the following detailed descriptionof housing 22 will also suffice as a description of housing 24. Housing22 is connected to conduit 20 by a ferrule 26 which cooperates with acomplementary elongated cylindrical hollow member 30 that extends fromthe end wall 32 of the housing 22 and into the passage 34 defined by theconduit 20.

As best seen in FIG. 2 the housing 22 is an elongated, hollow,cylindrical element which is connected by end wall 32 and member 30 tothe conduit 20 and has threads 36 at its other end for connection toanother element in the fluid handling system.

The housing 22 has an inner wall that includes a valve chamber 38 whichis defined by a ledge 40 that faces away from end wall 32 and a taperedvalve seat 42 that lies adjacent end wall 32. The tapered valve seat 42lies between the ledge 40 and the end wall 32 and faces ledge 40.

As explained above, member 30 cooperates with the ferrule 26 to clampthe conduit 20 between them so that the housing 22 is securely connectedto the conduit 20 for the receipt of and transmission of fluid underhigh pressure. It also serves as a cable guide as will be explainedherein.

A valve body 44 is disposed in the valve chamber 38. Preferably, thevalve body 44 includes an elongated, cylindrical member 46 having atapered end 48 and a rear wall 50. The taper at end 48 corresponds tothe taper of the valve seat 42 so that they can cooperate to prevent theflow of fluid when they are in engagement with each other.

A distal end 52 extends from the rear wall 50 of the valve body 40 andcomprises an elongated stem-like member 54 of relatively small diameterrelative to the elongated, cylindrical member 46. Stem-like member 54extends away from the valve seat 40.

Each of the valve bodies 44 and stem-like members 54 include alongitudinally extending, axial passage 56 of relatively small diameterthrough which a relatively stiff cable 58 or other suitable flexible andbendable member of predetermined length can be received. The valve body44 may be connected to the cable 58 by swaging, welding, or othersuitable means so that the cable 58 cannot separated from the valve body44 under the strong forces which will be present should the conduit 20rupture.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 valve body retainers 60 and 62 are providedin housings 22 and 24 respectively. Since the two retainers 60 and 62are identical the following detailed description of retainer 60 willalso suffice as a description of retainer 62.

Referring to FIG. 3, retainer 60 is a disc that includes a generallyannular central member 64 having a plurality of arms 66 extendingradially outwardly from it. The center of the annular member 64comprises an aperture 68.

Retainers 60 and 62 are disposed on ledges 40 in each housing 22 and 24.Each retainer is fixed on the ledge by being force fit, clamped, weldedor secured by any suitable means that will hold it in place for a reasonthat will become apparent. The distance between the retainers 60 and 62is about the same as the distance between the rear walls 50 of the valvebodies 44.

As best seen in FIG. 2 the member 30 and the stiffness of the cable 58cause the valve bodies 44 to lie with their rear walls 50 against theirrespective retainers 60 and 62 with their respective stems 54 extendingthrough the apertures 68.

Under normal operating conditions, compressed fluids flow throughconduit 20, through the fluid passages 70 defined by the space betweenthe arms 66 on each retainer 60 and 62 and the inner wall of thehousings 22 and 24, and through the opening between each valve seat 42and its respective valve body 44.

Since the cable 58 is confined by the wall of conduit 20, and is longenough arid sufficiently stiff to keep the valve bodies in engagementwith the retainers 60 and 62, as is apparent from FIG. 2, neither valvebody can move within its chamber since such movement is blocked by theretainer at the other end of the conduit.

Should the conduit 20 fail by either splitting or by rupture, the valvebodies 44 and valve seats 42 will move into engagement with each otherthereby stopping the flow through the conduit 20 at each of its ends asseen in FIG. 4. Accordingly, not only will discharge from the supplymanifold be stopped, but also discharge from the container being filledwill be stopped.

If the supply 10 or one of the containers 14 should fall during filling,the conduit 20 may fail. In this case the ends of the conduit will movewith the item to which they are connected. Therefore, the valve seats 42will be drawn away from each other and into engagement with theirrespective valve bodies 44 since the cable 58 will be drawn taut by themovement the conduit ends away from each other.

If the supply 10 and containers 14 are fixed, they will not be displacedwhen the conduit fails. In this case the valve bodies 44 will be urgedinto engagement with their respective valve seats 42 due to the pressuredifferential across the valve bodies 44 in that there is still highpressure fluid in the supply 10 and container 14 bearing against thevalve bodies 44. When conduit 20 fails, cable 58 is released from itsconfinement within the conduit and can flex to permit the valve bodies44 to move toward the valve seats 42. Further, because the cable 58extends through the conduit 20, it will serve as a guide for a rupturedconduit, thereby preventing the ends of the conduit from being whippedabout by the discharging fluid. Still further, even if the cable were tofail as a result of the rupture, fluid flow will still be stopped ateach end of the conduit since the cable 58 will not be holding the valvebodies 44 apart. It is significant to note that the advantages of theinvention are achieved by a structure that is entirely within theconduit. Thus, there is no external apparatus that might beinadvertently snagged, damaged or destroyed thereby rendering thefeatures of the invention unavailable when needed.

Still further, it is apparent that the device and method disclosed canbe used with conduits of varying sizes and materials.

Thus, while the invention has been described with respect to aparticular embodiment, it is apparent that other embodiments can beemployed to achieve the intended results. Thus, the scope of theinvention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but ratheronly by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising a flexibleconduit having first and second ends,first means at each end of saidconduit defining a valve seat, said valve seats normally being a firstpredetermined distance from each other, and being movable away from eachother when said conduit fails, a valve body disposed at each end, saidvalve seats being disposed between said valve bodies, said valve bodiesand said valve seats cooperating to define valves, second meansconnected to said valve bodies for holding them apart a second distancewhich is greater than the distance between said valve seats, third meansdisposed at each of said ends and cooperating with said second means forretaining said valve bodies against movement to permit fluid to flowthrough said conduit until said conduit fails, and said second means isoperative when said conduit fails and said valve seats move away fromeach other to retain said valve bodies at said second distance so thatsaid valve seats move toward said valve bodies and close said valves, orif the distance between said valve seats does not change, to permit saidvalve bodies to move toward each other so that said valve bodies movetoward said valve seats to close said valves.
 2. A system as defined inclaim 1 whereinsaid second means is connected between said valve bodies,and said valve bodies are disposed between said third means and saidvalve seats.
 3. A system as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid second meanscomprises an elongated, stiff, yet flexible member that extends throughsaid conduit.
 4. A system as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid first meanscomprises a housing, said housing including means for connecting it to aconduit and a valve chamber, and fourth means, said fourth means beingdefined by said housing and being for retaining said third means in saidhousing.
 5. A system as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid third meanscomprises a generally annular member that defines a plurality of fluidpassages to enable fluid to flow therethrough, and a portion of saidthird means is engagable with said valve bodies for supporting andguiding said valve bodies.
 6. A system as defined in claim 5 whereinsaidportion of said third means includes an aperture.
 7. A system as definedin claim 6 whereinsaid second means comprises an elongated, stiff, yetflexible cable extending through said conduit.
 8. A system as defined inclaim 5 whereinsaid housing includes an inner wall, said fourth meanscomprises a ledge defined by said inner wall, and said third means issupported by said ledge.
 9. A safety system for a fluid conduitcomprisinga flexible conduit having first and second ends, first meanscomprising a housing at each end of said conduit, said housings definingvalve seats and including means for connecting them to a conduit and avalve chamber, and said valve seats being a first predetermined distancefrom each other, a valve body disposed at each end, said valve seatsbeing disposed between said valve bodies, an elongated, stiff, yetflexible member extending through said conduit and being connected tosaid valve bodies, third means comprising a generally annular memberthat defines a plurality of fluid passages to enable fluid to flowtherethrough, said third means being disposed at each of said ends ofsaid conduit and cooperating with said elongated, stiff, yet flexiblemember to retain said valve bodies at said a second distance which isgreater than the distance between said valve seats to permit fluid toflow through said conduit until said conduit fails, a portion of saidthird means is engagable with said valve bodies for supporting andguiding said valve bodies, and fourth means, said fourth means beingdefined by said housing and being for retaining said third means in saidhousing.
 10. A system as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid portion of saidthird means includes an aperture, said valve body including a valve bodystem, and said valve body stem is slidably received in said aperture.11. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising a flexible conduithaving first and second ends,first means at each end of said conduitdefining a valve seat, said valve seats being a first predetermineddistance from each other, a valve body disposed at each end, said valveseats being disposed between said valve bodies, second means connectedto said valve bodies for holding them apart a second distance which isgreater than the distance between said valve seats, said second meansbeing connected between said valve bodies and comprising an elongated,stiff, yet flexible member that extends through said conduit, thirdmeans disposed at each of said ends for retaining said valve bodiesagainst movement toward their respective seats to permit fluid to flowthrough said conduit until said conduit fails, and said valve bodies aredisposed between said third means and said valve seats.
 12. A safetysystem for a fluid conduit comprising a flexible conduit having firstand second ends,first means at each end of said conduit defining a firstvalve member, said first valve members normally being a firstpredetermined distance from each other, a second valve member disposedat each end, said first valve members being disposed between said secondvalve members, and said first and second valve members cooperate todefine valves, second means connected to said second valve members forholding them apart a second distance which is greater than the distancebetween said first valve members until said conduit fails, third meansdisposed at each of said ends and cooperating with said second means forretaining said second valve members against movement toward theirrespective first valve members to permit fluid to flow through saidconduit until said conduit fails, said second means is operative underfirst and second conditions to enable said valves to close when saidconduit fails, said first condition being when the distance between saidfirst valve members increases after said failure whereupon said secondmeans causes said first valve members to move toward said second valvemembers, said second condition being when the distance between saidfirst valve members does not change after said failure whereupon saidsecond means flexes to enable said second valve members to move towardsaid first valve members.
 13. A system as defined in claim 12whereinsaid second means comprises an elongated, stiff, yet flexiblemember that extends through said conduit.
 14. A system as defined inclaim 12 whereinsaid third means comprises a generally annular memberthat defines a plurality of fluid passages to enable fluid to flowtherethrough, and a portion of said third means is engagable with saidvalve bodies for supporting and guiding said valve bodies.
 15. A systemas defined in claim 13 whereinsaid second means comprises a cable thatextends through said conduit.
 16. A method for stopping the flow offluid through a conduit which fails comprising the steps ofproviding aconduit having an inner wall, said conduit including means defining twovalve seats which are spaced from each other a first distance, providinga valve body for each of said valve seats, retaining said valve bodies asecond distance from each other by an elongated, stiff, yet flexiblemember that extends through said conduit and engages said inner wall,said second distance being greater than said first distance, and movingsaid valve seats and said valve bodies into engagement with each otherunder the force of said fluid when either said conduit, or said conduitand said elongated, stiff, yet flexible member fails.
 17. A method asdefined in claim 16 whereinsaid elongated, stiff, yet flexible memberprevents the ends of the conduit from whipping when only said conduitfails.
 18. A method for stopping the flow of fluid through a conduitwhich fails and for preventing the ends of the conduit from whippingcomprising the steps ofproviding a flexible conduit, providing a firstvalve member at each end of said conduit, said first valve members beingspaced from each other a first predetermined distance, providing asecond valve member adjacent each of said first valve members, retainingsaid second valve members a second predetermined distance from eachother, said second valve members being retained at said secondpredetermined distance by providing a elongated, stiff, yet flexibleelongated member in said conduit and connecting each end of saidelongated, stiff, yet flexible member to one of said second valvemembers, said second predetermined distance being greater than saidfirst predetermined distance, and restraining said second valve membersfrom moving relative to said conduit until said conduit fails whereuponsaid fluid causes said second valve members to engage said first valvemembers while said first valve members are still at said secondpredetermined distance, and said elongated, stiff, yet flexible memberis operative to prevent the ends of said hose from whipping when saidconduit fails.
 19. The method as defined in claim 18 including the stepof providinga valve housing at each end of said conduit and said valvebodies and said valve seats are in said valve housings.
 20. The methodas defined in claim 18 wherein the fluid is a compressed gas.
 21. Amethod for stopping the flow of fluid through a conduit which fails andfor preventing the ends of the conduit from whipping comprising thesteps ofproviding a flexible conduit, providing a valve seat at each endof said conduit, said valve seats being spaced from each other a firstpredetermined distance, providing a valve body adjacent each of saidvalve seats, retaining said valve bodies a second predetermined distancefrom each other by providing a elongated, stiff, yet flexible member insaid conduit and connecting each end of said elongated, stiff yetflexible member to one of said valve bodies where the distance betweensaid valve bodies is greater than the distance between said valve seats,and restraining said valve bodies from moving relative to said conduituntil said conduit fails whereupon said elongated, stiff, yet flexiblemember enables said valve bodies and said valve seats to engage eachother.
 22. The method as defined in claim 21 including the step ofprovidinga valve housing at each end of said conduit, and said valvebodies and said valve seats are in said valve housings.
 23. The methodas defined in claim 21 wherein the fluid is a compressed gas.
 24. Themethod as defined in claim 21 whereinsaid elongated, stiff, yet flexiblemember enables said valve bodies and said valve seats to engage eachother by flexing when said conduit fails so that said valve bodies canmove toward said valve seats.
 25. The method as defined in claim 21whereinsaid elongated, stiff, yet flexible member enables said valvebodies and said valve seats to engage each other by becoming taut whensaid conduit fails so that said valve seats can move toward said valvebodies.